Weekly Stewards And Commissions Rulings, May 9-15

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, 2022, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

California
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/12/2023
Licensee: Timothy Miller, owner
Penalty: Suspended license
Violation: Failure to appear for a hearing
Explainer: Owner Timothy Miller (DBA: ATREIDES RACING, LLC), having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards at Santa Anita Park on May 11, 2023, is suspended for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1547 (Failure to Appear), pending an appearance at a hearing before the Board of Stewards to answer to charges alleging violation of CHRB rule #1876 (Financial Responsibility  $2,084.55 to  KC Horse Transport, Inc.).  Suspension to commence May 19, 2023.

Florida
The following was taken from the ARCI's “recent rulings” webpage.
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 05/5/2023
Licensee: Eduardo Azpurua, trainer
Penalty: Suspended license
Violation: Failure to meet financial obligations
Explainer: Violation – Default Judgement obtained for outstanding financial obligation for services received from Northwest Distributors, LLC. License is SUSPENDED until Respondent has fully satisfied all outstanding financial obligations in the amount of $9910.85 plus interest, and proof of such payment is received by the Commission.

Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 05/4/2023
Licensee: Ramon Minguet, trainer
Penalty: Fifteen-day suspension, $500 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer:  Violation = 3-hydroxylidocaine (a metabolite of lidocaine). “MOONCAPTURE” *Purse due from Owner – Soler & Soler

Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 05/4/2023
Licensee: Diley Dakin, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Violation = Dexamethasone. “PRINCIPIA” *Return of Purse due from Owner – Proper Fix Racing Stables

New York
Track: Belmont Park
Date: 05/11/2023
Licensee: Todd Pletcher, trainer
Penalty: Ten-day suspension, $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Having received a report from the NYS Gaming Commission Equine Drug Testing Laboratory of the finding of Meloxicam in the post-race sample taken from horse “Forte” (#2), which finished 1st in the 11th race at Saratoga Race Course on September 5, 2022, trainer Todd Pletcher is fined the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars and suspended ten calendar days.  Having appealed a stay has been granted.
Furthermore, the Stewards order horse “Forte” disqualified from any part of the purse and the purse redistributed as follows:

1. (#4) Gulfport
2. (#6) Blazing Sevens
3. (#5) Mo Strike
4. (#3) Bourbon Bash
5. (#1) Western Ghent

During your period of suspension, you shall not directly or indirectly participate in New York State pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privilages and use of the grounds of all racetracks, you are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payment. Every horse is denied the privilages of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that (a) is owned or trained by you, or by any individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension: or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advise or other information or otherwise assist with any aspect of the training of such horses. Read more about the story here, including on the connections' appeal.

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal, except for the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Violations of Crop Rule
Horseshoe Indianapolis
Isaias Florentino Ayala – violation date May 9; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Mckenna K Anderson – violation date May 11; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
DeShawn L Parker – violation date May 11; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Santa Anita
Abel Cedillo – violation date May 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Drayden Van Dyke – violation date May 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Penn National
Vladimir Diaz – violation date May 10; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes and three-in a row
Edilberto Rodriguez – violation date May 10; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes